The federal government has decided to exclude two major infrastructure projects — 10th Avenue and Sihala Flyover — from the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the fiscal year 2025-26, leaving residents highly anxious and frustrated over the long terms delays of critical development in Islamabad.
10th Avenue Project Dropped After Delays
The 10th Avenue road project, worth Rs 10.2 billion, was launched in 2022 with the goal of easing traffic congestion and providing direct connectivity from Katarian Bridge on Karnal Sher Khan Road (formerly IJP Road) to the Srinagar Highway near G-9 and G-10 sectors.
• Originally slated for completion in March 2024, the project has been delayed multiple times.
• 44 percent of the construction has been completed until now.
• Out of the total budget, the government has released only Rs 3.5 billion, causing severe funding gaps.
• The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has been tasked with completing it from its own resources.
Residents from adjacent sectors like I-9 and I-10 have expressed disappointment.
“The unfinished project is the major cause of creating many daily problems for commuters. We’ve been waiting for three years,” said Mohammad Kashif, a resident of I-10.
Read more: CDA seeks additional grant for completion of first phase of Islamabad’s 10th Avenue
Sihala Flyover Also Off the List
Another shelved project is the Sihala Flyover, initiated in 2021 with a cost of Rs 770 million. Work had started but was soon halted due to lack of progress and funding.
• The project was meant to address traffic bottlenecks in the southern part of the capital.
• Now, the government has told the CDA to fund it independently as well.
Neglected Environment: Rawal Dam’s Sewage Plant Underfunded
In a concerning move, the government has allocated only Rs100 million for a critical sewage treatment plant project at Rawal Dam, which is estimated to cost Rs6 billion.
• The project was originally planned to stop untreated sewage from contaminating the dam, especially via Korang Nullah and streams from Shahdara, Bari Imam, and Banigala.
• Due to poor funding, solid waste continues to pollute the reservoir, posing serious environmental and public health risks.
• The issue had previously reached the Supreme Court, which urged authorities to take swift action—still largely unmet.
What Is Funded in the 2025–26 Budget?
While essential projects have been dropped, some new schemes under the Interior Division have received allocations:
• Rs 5.1 billion earmarked for three new initiatives:
o Rs 3 billion for expansion of the Safe City project.
o Rs 2 billion for Islamabad’s general infrastructure development.
Conclusion
As Islamabad continues to grow, residents are asking for the government’s priorities. With road networks unfinished and environmental hazards worsening, the dropping of major projects from the PSDP 2025-26 has left many wondering whether the capital’s development is being compromised for less urgent plans.